Botia kubotai in natural habitat

[Nonn]

Probably the fisrt underwater shot of one of the most popular loach around.

This is Suriya River (The Sun River) which originate in Thailand and flow north to meet Salween river in Myanmar. It is one of the most remote and most difficult to access river in Thailand. From Bangkok I have to drive 5 hours to Sangklaburi the town between Thai-Myanmar border then, another 10 hours of hard-core off road and 2 hours walk to get here. Then I get to spend only one and a half hour before we have to turn back because the time was so limit.



It was one of the most memorable one and a half hour of my life to spend quality time underwater with these fishy!



more picture over here: note soilder carrying gun and frag accompany us as we were very close to the border where Myanmar troop and Karen are still actively fighting.

http://www.siamensis.org/webboard/webanswer.asp?id=5525[/url][/i]

[Nonn]

Btw, can you see B. kubotai and B. berdmorei in the picture?

[Mark in Vancouver]

Fantastic, Nonn! I'm so glad you do this stuff. I'm very envious.

[newshound]

excellent!
I could see the kub but not the other botia.
Swimming in warm waters.
I just kayaked in the St. Mary rapids (infront of Sault Ste. Marie) and let me tell you it was like 1000 pins being stuck in deep when my leg went in the water! I wear 3 wetsuits but my legs aren't as well covered.
Over 200 people jumped into a hole in the ice during the closing of the winter carnival called "Bon Soo".
All this to say "man warm water to swim in. Ahhhhh"

[Erik]

Hey Newshound didn't know you paddled white water! I also paddle white water. Learned in ontario, did the ottawa etc. But now live in bc whitewater heaven:) The water is so clean out here.. Btw get yourself a drysuit , it's the only way to go.
Erik

[Emma Turner]

Awesome, Nonn! Keep 'em coming!

Emma

[mikev]

Great pic.... If I may ask: what is the topfeeder on the right? Blackline rasbora?

[Nonn]

Great pic.... If I may ask: what is the topfeeder on the right? Blackline rasbora?

A Poropuntius...I'm not sure what species it was as I couldn't capture any.

[Graeme Robson]

Superb pictures Nonn!

[newshound]

Hey Newshound didn't know you paddled white water! I also paddle white water. Learned in ontario, did the ottawa etc. But now live in bc whitewater heaven:) The water is so clean out here.. Btw get yourself a drysuit , it's the only way to go.
Erik

well I am not a true WW paddler. My boat is a 10ft puddle jumper with a sharp nose. But the hell with it-I use what I have. Sure it gets dinged up but that is the point
Anyhows I looked at the photo again and I did see the other loach!
It is funny how one can miss something at one point and see it at another time.

[Jim Powers]

Fantastic, Nonn!!
As always, thanks for letting us see into the worlds of our favorite fish.
I hope you realize how lucky you are.

[cybermeez]

Excellent photos Nonn! It really is a thrill to See these fish in their natural habitat. I kind of glad it's not easy to get there too since it means they probably won't be over collected and become endangered. Thanks for sharing!

[prairieguy]

So very fine! Marvellous. Thanks. The picture with the kubotai reminds us again how vastly different their natural home is from the aquaria we provide.

[Spankenstyne]

Wow impressive pictures, thanks for sharing them. Takes a very special type of dedication to go through what you did for just such a short swim. Fascinating, very beautiful pics.

[sophie]

Btw, can you see B. kubotai and B. berdmorei in the picture?

stripy fish under the log to the left of the pic? (b. bermorei, that is)